Projection offset processors and the like



March 15, 1966 FAlRBANKs ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Oct.4, 1963 HE NR Y N. FAIRBANKS DAN/EL H. ROBBINS TTORNEY March 15, 1966 H.N. FAIRBANKS ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/Z/V March 15, 1966 H. N. FAIRBANKS ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 3 HENRY/V. FA/RBA NKS DAN/EL H. ROBBINS Fl 6 4 INVENTORSATTORNEY March 1956 H. N. FAIRBANKS ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 4, 1963 FIG 5 HE NR Y N. FA IRBANKS DA N/E L h. ROBBINS 1NVEN T 0R5 FIG 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,240,490 PROJECTIONOFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE Henry N. Fairbanks and Daniel H. Robbins,Rochester,

N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Itek Corporation, Lexington,Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 313,946 8Claims. (Cl. 271-71) This invention is directed to improvements inprojection offset processors and the like. More particularly theinvention is directed to a receptacle for stacking sheets and inparticular, is directed to a sheet delivery system for wet sheets. Whilethe invention is useful to stack sheets or plates it is particularlyadapted for receiving photographic emulsion coated sheets as they emergefrom a processor in a moist form.

In a copending application Serial No. 314,023, filed October 4, 1963,assigned to the common assignee of this application, there is disclosedand claimed an apparatus and method for making offset plates. In thisdevice, a graphic original is placed on an easel and photographeddirectly onto an offset plate sensitized with a photographic emulsion.The device automatically processes the offset plate and delivers theplate ready for use on an offset press. The apparatus is capable ofproducing offset plates at a continuous rate of two plates a minute. Forimmediate use with an offset press it is desirable that the plates bedelivered to the operator in a moistened condition. This eliminates thenecessity of remoistening the plate for use on the press. In thecopending application there is shown a typical prior art receptacle forreceiving sheets emerging from photographic processors. After the sheetemerges from the processor it is no longer supported by the apparatusand falls under gravity to the bottom of a receptacle. It has been foundwith receptacles of this type that the trailing edge of the sheet tendsto strike the back wall of the receptacle. When the sheet is still wetfrom the processor the sheet tends to stick to the wall, and does nothave the ability to slide over one another. As a consequence, thestacker requires close supervision by the operator to prevent emulsionto emulsion contact of the sheets or to prevent interference by onesheet with the sheets following it. These and other disadvantages aresolved in this invention by providing a pair of guides to support thesheet as it emerges from the processor. The guides are so positionedthat the sheet is bowed as it is driven along the horizontal path. Thisserves to make the forward portion of the sheet self-supporting duringits travel along the path. As the sheet comes to the end of itshorizontal travel, the leading edge of the sheet is engaged by afulcrum. Once the sheet disengages from the driving device it isunsupported and falls under its own weight to the bottom of thereceptacle pivoting about the fulcrum. The back wall below the plane ofthe guides is recessed so as to eliminate interference with the trailingedge of the sheet as it rotates about the fulcrum.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedreceptacle for processed moist sheets.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improvedreceptacle for processed moist sheets that prevents folding, bending, orother physical damage to the sheets as they are stacked in thereceptacle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improvedreceptacle for moist emulsion type sheets wherein the sheets do notinterfere with one another during stacking.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatusfor processing emulsion coated sheet material of predetermined width. Inthe apparatus there is a sheet delivery system. The system comprisestransport means for transporting the processed sheet from the apparatusalong a substantially horizontal path. Guide means are provided coupledto the transport means for supporting the sheet as it leaves theapparatus and transport means. The guide means include sheet engagingsurfaces having a spacing less than the width of the sheet to bow thesheet as it travels along the path beyond the guide means, whereby theportion of the sheet beyond the guide means is self-supporting. Storemeans are provided, coupled to the guide means, for receiving the sheet.The store means include a substantially horizontally disposed fulcrumfor engaging the bottom surface of the sheet in the vicinity of theleading edge of the sheet. The fulcrum engages the sheet after thetransport means delivers the sheet trailing edge from the apparatus. Aback wall is disclosed below and recessed from the transport means forallowing the trailing edge of the sheet after it leaves the transportmeans to freely fall under its own weight while the sheet is engaged bythe fulcrum. A bottom wall extends along an inclined plane from thefulcrum to the bottom edge of the back wall for supporting the sheetafter the sheet is engaged by the fulcrum and falls from the guidemeans.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the broad principles ofoperation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a photographic type sheet processortaken from the rear showing a sheet receptacle embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear elevation view taken from the rear of theprocessor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view partly in section of anotherembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 through 4; and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. k

The broad principles of operation of the invention for delivering moistprocessed emulsion coated sheet material from a processing apparatus maybe best understood with reference to FIG. 1. In Step A of FIG. 1 aprocessed sheet 10 emerging from an apparatus 12 is transported along asubstantially horizontal path. The horizontal disposition of the sheetis along A. This is accomplished, for example, by progressivelymomentarily engaging sheet 10 along its length with a drive meansexemplified schematically by rollers 20 and 22. In Step B sheet 10 isthen longitudinally stiffened as it travels along the horizontal path.The stiffening of sheet 10 is exemplified schematically by decreasingthe horizontal spacing between its edges parallel to the direction oftravel. The decrease in spacing is achieved by disposing a pair of sheetengaging surfaces 28 and 30, shown in B so that they have a spacing lessthan the width of sheet 10. This decrease in spacing occurs after theedges are disengaged from the drive means, that is, when the sheetleaves rollers 20 and 22. One method of stiffening is shown at B wherethe sheet 10 is bowed. By stiffening sheet 10, the portion of sheet 10beyond the drive and guide means is self supporting. The sheet continuesto travel in a horizontal direction. In Step C the bottom surface ofsheet 10 in the vicinity of its leading edge is engaged and pivotallysupported on a fulcrum 54, shown in C'. Simultaneously, the transportingof sheet 10 is terminated. The trailing edge of sheet 10 is disengagedfrom the drive means, as shown in Step D. The bottom surface of sheetvaried for accommodating varying width papers.

in the vicinity of its. leading edge is simultaneously supported onfulcrum 54, shown in D.

The step of disengaging the trailing edge allows it to fully rotatebelow the horizontal path with the leading edge supported on fulcrum 54.i A back wall 58 is recessed ,from surfaces 28 and 30 for allowing thetrailing edge of sheet 10 after it leaves rollers 20 and 22 to freelyfall between guide surfaces 28 and 30. The sheet, as shown in E,contacts a support surface 60 disposed along an inclined plane- Thetrailing edge of sheet 10 is now below the drive means so as not tointerfere with the next sheet to emerge.

While the apparatus which is the subject of this invention has manyapplications, it will be described in connection with the automaticoffset platemaking cameraprocessor disclosed in the above mentionedcopending application which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there is here illustrated a sheetdelivery system embodying the present invention in a offset platemakingcamera-processor. The offset platemaking camera-processor is generallydesignated by the numeral 12 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

As' can be seen in FIG. 2, the processed sheet material which is anemulsion coated sheet is designated by the numeral 10. Thecamera-processor has an exit slit 14 in its rear wall 16.

In addition, the camera-processor is formed with a recess 18 forreceiving sheets as they emerge through the slit 14 in rear wall 16. Therecess is defined by a back wall 58, side wall 17 (one of which is shownin FIG. 2) and a bottom wall support surface 60. Mounted on rear wall 16are guide means in the form of sheet surface engaging rollers 38 and 40for engaging the side edges of sheet 10. Rollers 38 and 40 arepreferably made of an inert. material that will not react with thechemicals on sheet 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, rollers 38 and 40 aremounted on shafts 32 and 34. Shafts 32 and 34 are slideably coupled torear wall 16 through slots 46. A

.pair of bolts 48 pass through lugs formed in the ends of shafts 32 ,and34 and through slots 46. A wing nut 44 1s threadedly coupled to each ofbolts 48 so that when tightened, rollers 38 and 40 remain fixed, andwhen loosened the spacing between rollers 38 and 40 may be The spacingbetween rollers 38 and 40 along the horizontal line corresponding to theline of tangency of rollers 20 and 22 is less than the width of thesheet causing the sheet to bow as illustrated. Because sheet 10 isbowed, it

is, self-supporting beyond the rollers.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated thedisposition of the transport means for driving sheet 10 from apparatus12 along a substantially horisheet 10 emerges from exit slit '14 in asubstantially horizontal direction. As can be seen more clearly in FIG.3 the rear wall 16 has a recessed portion 18 formed therein and thebottom wall support surface 69 has a fulcrum 54 in the form of angleafiixed to it at one end. Fulcrum 54 and the'bottom wall support surface60 are further supported'by attachment 56 to the rear vertical wall 16of apparatus12. Fulcrum 54 has a horizontal support surface or plane inthe same plane as the line of tangency of rollers 20 and 22 or in aplane lying below the line of tangency.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, in operation, the camera-processorapparatus 12 delivers a moist sheet 10 to the transport means in theformof rotating rollers 20 and 22. Sheet 10 is driven along asubstantiallyhorizontal path disposed in the plane of the lineoftangency of rollers 21 and 22.. As the sheet leaves rollers 20 and 22it engages the guide means sheet engaging surfaces in the form ofrollers 38 and 40. Rollers 38 and 40 engage the edges of sheet 10parallel to the direction of its travel. As heretofore stated thespacing of rollers 38 and 40 is set at a distance less than the width ofthe sheet so as to cause the sheet to how. The bowed sheet beyond theguide means is self supporting. Sheet If) is transported in thehorizontal path .until a portion of the surface inthe vicinity of itsleading edge contacts fulcrum 54. Fulcrum 54 is preferably constructedof a smooth material such as stainless steel. Because of the moisture ofsheet 10 and the smoothness of the surface of fulcrum 54 a highcoefficient of friction is developed between the sheet and fulcrum 54.When the trailing edge of the sheet emerges from between rollers 20 and22 the inertia of the sheet is sufficient to carry it through slit 14whereby the trailing edge portion is only supported by rollers 38 and40. The sheet then drops due to its own weight between rollers 38 and 40onto bottom wall 60. Sheet 10 pivots about fulcrum 54 as it drops.Bottom wall 60 is preferably a roughened surface so as to allow an aircushion to develop between the sheet and the bottom wall. Since thebottom wall area is sufiiciently greater than the area of the fulcrumthe sheet will tend to slide down to the bottom wall and come to restagainst recess 18 formed in rear wall 16. Recess 18 prevents thetrailing edge from engaging wall 16 as it pivots down.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is here illustrated anotherembodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the previousembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through'4 therefor similar parts arereferred to by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 through 4. Theprimary difference between the two embodiments is that in thisembodiment the bottom wall of the sheet receiver is made removable tofacilitate transporting the delivered sheets to a utilization devicesuch .as an offset press.

Thus, the apparatus for processing emulsion coated sheet material ofpredetermined width is again shown generally by numeral 12. Thetransport means for driving a processed sheet 10 from apparatus 12through exit slit 14 along a substantially horizontal path includesrollers 20 and 22. Sheet surface engaging rollers 38 and 40 of the guidemeans are coupled torear wall 16, as in FIGS. 1 through 4, andfunctionin the same manner; that is, they engage the sheet edges causing thesheet to bow as it is transported horizontally. The store means includeback wall 58 disposed below and recessed from rollers 38 and 40 of theguide means. A pair of vertical brackets 76 are mounted on the back Wall58. The brackets each have an elongated slot 74. A tray 62 having a pairof pins 72 extending therefrom for engaging slots 74. When in position,the back wall 64 of the tray is parallel and in contact with the backwall 58 of apparatus 12. On the opposite end of tray 62 is asubstantially horizontally disposed fulcrum 54 for engaging the bottomsurface of the'sheet 10 in the vicinity of the leading edge of thesheet.

This embodiment of the apparatus operates similarly to the devicedescribed in FIGS. 1 through 4. When the leading edge of the sheet isengaged by fulcrum 54, the trailing edge is disengaged from rollers 20and 22 and pivotally drops between rollers 38 and 40 into tray 62. Fortransportation to another location the entire tray 62 is removed bypulling it in the direction of slots 74. It should be noted that in thisembodiment the possibility of having the fulcrum below the horizontalplanein which the line of tangency of the rollers lie is illustrated.

While the guide means surfaces have been disclosed in terms of rollersit will be readily apparent that fixed guides may be used forlongitudinal stiffening of the sheets. Furthermore, other transportationmeans other than a roller drive may be used with the device, i.e. aperforated edge positive drive.

It will be seen that the invention accomplished its objects and while ithas been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended inan illustraguide means coupled to said transport means for supportingsaid sheet as it leaves said apparatus and said transport means, saidguide means including a pair of guide rollers having their axes ofrotation tive, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated 5disposed in a plane perpendicular to said path, each that variousmodifications in the construction and armember pair of said pair ofrollers so disposed so rangement of the parts will readily occur tothose skilled as to guide a side edge of said sheet in said path and inthe art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope said axes ofrotation describing an acute angle with of the appended claims. saidpath and means for moving said guide rollers What is claimed is: 10 insaid plane to vary the sparing between said guide 1. In an apparatus forprocessing emulsion coated sheet rollers less than the width of saidsheet to bow said material of predetermined width, a sheet deliverysyssheet as it travels along said path beyond said guide tem,comprising: means, whereby the portion of said sheet beyond saidtransport means for driving a processed sheet from guide means is selfsupporting; and

said apparatus along a substantially predetermined store means coupledto said guide means for receivpath; ing said sheet, said store meansincluding a fulcrum guide means coupled to said transport means forsupfor engaging the bottom surface of said sheet in the porting saidsheet as it leaves said apparatus and vicinity of the leading edgethereof, a back wall dissaid transport means, said guide meansincluding, posed below and recessed from said guide means sheet engagingsurfaces having a spacing less than for allowing the trailing edge ofsaid sheet after it the width of said sheet to corrugate said sheet asit leaves said transport means to freely fall between travels along saidpath beyond said guide means, said surfaces with said sheet in thevicinity of the whereby the portion of said sheet beyond said guideleading edge thereof in engagement with said fulmeans is selfsupporting; and crum, and a bottom wall extending along an inclinedstore means coupled to said guide means for receiving 2 plane from saidfulcrum to the bottom edge of said said sheet, said store meansincluding a fulcrum for engaging the bottom surface of said sheet in thevicinity of the leading edge thereof and for pivotal ly back wall forsupporting said sheet after engagement by said fulcrum and fall frombetween said surfaces.

supporting said sheet at a point inward of said lead- 6. In an apparatusfor processing emulsion coated ing edge, a back wall disposed below andrecessed sheet material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery fromsaid guide means for allowing the trailing edge system, comprising:

of said sheet after it leaves said transport means to transport meansfor driving a processed sheet from freely fall between surfaces withsaid sheet in the vicinity of the leading edge thereof in engagementsaid apparatus along a substantially predetermined path, said transportmeans including with said fulcrum, and a bottom Wall extending along apair of squeegee rollers having their axes of rotation an inclined planefrom said fulcrum to the bottom disposed in a plane perpendicular tosaid path for edge of said back wall for supporting said sheet disposingthe line of tangency of said rollers along after engagement by saidfulcrum and fall from bethe intersection of said plane and said path;tween said surfaces. guide means coupled to said transport means forsup- 2. The sheet delivery system of claim 1, wherein said porting saidsheet as it leaves said apparatus and fulcrum is a substantially smoothsurface. said transport means, said guide means including a 3. The sheetdelivery system of claim 1, wherein said pair of guide rollers havingtheir axes of rotation bottom wall is provided with a substantiallyrough surdisposed in a plane perpendicular to said path, each face. rmember pair of said pair of rollers so disposed so 4. In an apparatusfor processing emulsion coated as to guide a side edge of said sheet andsaid axes sheet material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery ofrotation describing an acute angle with said path system, comprising:and means for moving said guide rollers in said transport means fordriving a processed sheet from said plane to vary the spacing betweensaid guide rollers apparatus along a substantially predetermined path,less than the width of said sheet to bow said sheet said transport meansincluding as it travels along path beyond said guide means, a pair ofsqueegee rollers having their axes of rotation whereby the portion ofsaid sheet beyond said guide lying in a plane perpendicular to said pathfor dismeans is Self pp and posing the line of tangency of said rollersalong the store means coupled to said guide means for receivingintersection of said plane and said path; said sheet, said store meansincluding a substantially store means coupled to said guide means forreceiving 811100911 Surface for engaging the bottom Surface of saidsheet, said store means including a fulcrum for Said Sheet in theVicinity 0f the leading edge thereof, engaging the bottom surface ofsaid sheet in the a back wall disposed below and recessed from saidvicinity of the leading edge thereof, a back wall disguide means forallowing the trailing edge of said posed below and recessed from saidguide means sheet after it leaves said transport means to freely forallowing the trailing edge of said sheet after it fall between Saidguide rollers with Said Sheet in leaves said transport means to freelyfall between the vicinity of the leading edge thereof in engagesaidsurfaces with said sheet in the vicinity of the m w said smooth Surface,and a bottom w ll leading edge thereof in engagement with said fulhavingSubstantially rough surface extending along crum, and a bottom wallextending along an inan inclined plane from said smooth surface to theclined plane from said fulcrum to the bottom edge of said back wall forsupporting said sheet after engagement by said fulcrum and fall frombetween bottom edge of said back wall for supporting said sheet afterengagement by said smooth surface and fall from between said guiderollers.

said surfaces. 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said path is 5. Inan apparatus for processing emulsion coated substantially horizontal.sheet material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery 8. In anapparatus for processing emulsion coated sheet system, comprising:material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery system,

transport means for driving a processed sheet from comprising:

said apparatus along a substantially predetermined transport means fordriving a processed sheet from said path; apparatus along asubstantially predetermined path;

guide means coupled to said transport means for supa back wall coupledto said guide means and disposed below and recessed from said guidemeans for allowing the trailing edge of said sheet after it leaves saidtransport means to freely fall from between said surfaces; and a trayremovably coupled to said guide means for receiving said sheet, saidtray including a fulcrum for engaging the bottom surface of said sheetin the vicinity of the leading edge thereof, a tray back wall disposedsuch that when said tray is in position for receiving said sheet saidtray back wall is flush with said fulcrum to the bottom edge of saidtray back wall for supporting said sheet after engagement by saidfulcrum and fall from between said surfaces; and

means for removably coupling said tray to said guide means, said lastnamed meansincluding a pair of brackets mounted to said back wallforreceiving between the member pair of said pair of brackets said tray,each member pair of said pair of brackets bearing an open ended slotanda pair of sidewalls for joining said tray back wall and said bottomwall, each member pair of said pair of sidewalls bearing a pin disposedto slide in said slot in said bracket to position said tray with respectto said guide means;

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,472,225 6/1949Muddirnan 2717l 3,052,468 9/1962 Cutaia et a1. 27171 M. HENSON WOOD,]R., Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EMULSION COATED SHEET MATERIAL OFPREDETERMINED WIDTH, A SHEET DELIVERY SYSTEM, COMPRISING: TRANSPORTMEANS FOR DRIVING A PROCESSED SHEET FROM SAID APPARATUS ALONG ASUBSTANTIALLY PREDETERMINED PATH; GUIDE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID TRANSPORTMEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHEET AS IT LEAVES SAID APPARATUS AND SAIDTRANSPORT MEANS, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING, SHEET ENGAGING SURFACESHAVING A SPACING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID SHEET TO CORRUGATE SAIDSHEET AS IT TRAVELS ALONG SAID PATH BEYOND SAID GUIDE MEANS, WHEREBY THEPORTION OF SAID SHEET BEYOND SAID GUIDE MEANS IS SELF SUPPORTING; ANDSTORE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID GUIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID SHEET, SAIDSTORE MEANS INCLUDING A FULCRUM FOR ENGAGING THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAIDSHEET IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGE THEREOF AND FOR PIVOTALLYSUPPORTING SAID SHEET AT A POINT INWARD OF SAID LEADING EDGE, A BACKWALL DISPOSED BELOW AND RECESSED FROM SAID GUIDE MEANS FOR ALLOWING THETRAILING EDGE OF SAID SHEET AFTER IT LEAVES SAID TRANSPORT MEANS TOFREELY FALL BETWEEN SURFACES WITH SAID SHEET IN THE VICINITY OF THELEADING EDGE THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FULCRUM, AND A BOTTOM WALLEXTENDING ALONG AN INCLINED PLANE FROM SAID FULCRUM TO THE BOTTOM EDGEOF SAID BACK WALL FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHEET AFTER ENGAGEMENT BY SAIDFULCRUM AND FALL FROM BETWEEN SAID SURFACES.